18th April 2026: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 16-member squad for two-match Test series vs. Bangladesh to be played next month, with a notable presence of Karachi region players and coaches playing a key role in shaping the national setup.
In a recent development, former Pakistan Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed the head coach of Pakistan men’s Test team. This marks an important transition following his retirement from international cricket in March 2026, beginning a new chapter in his cricketing career after transitioning into multiple coaching roles with Pakistan U-19 and Pakistan Shaheen. Sarfaraz Ahmed has two major ICC tournaments under his belt as a captain, ICC U-19 worldcup 2026 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017. PCB’s support for Sarfaraz doesn’t come as a surprise as his record as a leader speaks for itself in Pakistan Cricket.
He’ll be supported by another stalwart of the Karachi region, Asad Shafiq who was a solid middle-order for Pakistan for many years playing 77 Test matches, scoring 12 hundreds and 27 fifties. Joining them is Abdul Saad from Karachi,a fielding coach who was previouslyassociated with Pakistan women’s team, further strengthening the city’s presence in the national team’s think tank.
The biggest talking point is the maiden Test call-ups for two emerging talents of Karachi, Abdullah Fazal and Ghazi Ghouri. Both players, one a stylish left-hand opening batsmen and the other wicketkeeper-batsman were the leading scorers in President’s Trophy 2025-26.
Abdullah Fazal was the highest run-scorer for President’s Trophy 2025-26 with 622 runs at an average of 51.83 in 13 innings (7 matches) with 2 fifties and 2 hundreds for SBP. His top score of 182 was a treat to watch. Abdullah Fazal continued his brilliant form from Quaid-e-Azam Trophy where he scored a fifty and a hundred in the final against Sialkot for Karachi Blues.
Ghazi Ghouri, a stylish wicketkeeper-batsman, was the player of the tournament in President’s Trophy 2025-26. In 7 matches for State Bank of Pakistan, he played 12 innings and scored 531 runs at an average of 48.27 with one fifty and two hundreds top-scoring with138. He had 21 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. The young wicketkeeper-batsman was the second-highest run-scorer for his team SBP.
The selection of both these players reflects the PCB’s selection approach. Prolific run scorers are rewarded, giving hope for other players in the region to continue the hard work required for the national duty call-up. The inclusion of these youngsters also highlights the talent present in Karachi and its strong domestic structure.
The squad will be led by Shan Masood, who has been retained as Test captain, reflecting the board’s trust in his leadership as Pakistan prepares for ICC World Test Championship. Meanwhile established middle-order batter Saud Shakeel continues to cement his place in the Test side providing stability and consistency in Pakistan’s batting lineup.
The selection of 16-member squad reflects the blend of experience and youth, with four uncapped players added as Pakistan aims to add depth in its red-ball squad ahead of important matches coming up in the international calendar. For Karachi cricket followers, these announcements are significant. From the coaching staff to leadership roles and the fresh faces breaking into the national side, the city’s contribution remains central to Pakistan’s cricket present and future.
All eyes will be on Karachi players to make an impressive impact on the international stage as the team prepares for the Bangladesh tour.
16-Member Squad:
Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
